willywhit Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 know before you go tragic story http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/01/21/experienced_climber_dies_on_mount_washington/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin A. Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Huntington Ravine, not Tuckerman's. A tradgedy, but you should never underestimate the mountains in the winter. Or in the summer for that matter. We've had all kinds of avalanche-producing weather in the past week and a half...definitley not a good time to be up there (as evidenced by this man's death). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 my bad, thanks Justin. You know us flatlanders use "Tuckermans" loosely when referring to the big bowl up there. Hiking alone tho? You'd think this guy would've know better. http://www.tuckerman.org/safety/safety.htm http://www.tuckerman.org/avalanche/index.html http://www.chauvinguides.com/hunticeguide3.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin A. Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 The thing with going out into avalanche terrain in winter is that even the buddy system might not be enough. I've always been taught that you should go out in at least a group of 4, and keep some distance between each other when in high-risk terrain (i.e. huntington ravine) that way if a slide does occur, not everyone will nessicarily be involved. I hiked once by myself this summer, and I regretted it when I heard thunder while I was around 3500'. Huntington Ravine is notoriously badass...there was an avalanche a few days ago and the Avy risk is still "moderate"?? That says somethin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfell Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 Tough to read the wifes quotes about how experienced her husband, she kind of makes it sound like it was a freak accident. The avalanche danger was reported as high that day!!! It dosen't say in the article if he was wearing a peep or not. A few years ago on Utah two snowboarders (in their early 20's) we snowboading in the backcountry and got caught in an avalanche, they were not wearing peeps and their bodies were not recovered until the snow melted in the spring...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buell Posted January 22, 2008 Report Share Posted January 22, 2008 http://www.tuckerman.org/accident/20072008.htm "As is often the case in avalanche accidents, it appears that his technical climbing experience surpassed his knowledge of mountain snowpack. In addition, the victim was not carrying any avalanche safety equipment. Though it did not make a difference in this scenario, carrying this equipment provides an additional tool should the unthinkable occur. Even if climbing alone this gear can help you out when things go bad. Other climbers in the area could locate you if you were buried while wearing a beacon and you could provide the same service for them. With this said, self sufficiency is paramount in avalanche rescue so having a party of two or more is needed. Having these items with you should be standard practice anytime you enter avalanche terrain." If you read down to 12/20 you will note that 3 climbers got caught and carried in an avalanche. None of them had avy gear and all of them amazingly ended up on top of the debris. The avalanche danger was considerable in the spot that slid and 2 of them wanted to go ahead and do the climb after surviving the avalanche. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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